Propulsion means for diver



Oct. 11, 1966 T. J. ATHEY PROPULSION MEANS FOR DIVER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 2'7, 1966 Oct. 11, 1966 T. J. ATHEY 3,277,858

PROPULSION MEANS FOR DIVER Filed Jan. 27, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 n '1 75 8| 82 54 i z i I! 57 69 60 p 76 79 74 58 "so 52 T 82 56 77 70 B570 gig'y INVENTOR.

6| 6| 919.11 THOMAS J- ATHEY United States Patent 3,277,858 PROPULSION MEANS FOR DIVER Thomas J. Athey, 920 S. Central Ave., Apt. 23, Glendale, Calif. 91204 Filed Jan. 27, 1966, Ser. No. 523,335 Claims. (Cl. 1156.1)

This invention relates to the art of scuba diving and more particularly to a surface supported power source and associated jet propulsion means under the control of a diver for effecting propulsion of the diver through the water.

With the advent of self-contained underwater breathing apparatus, there have been numerous proposals for giving the diver the assistance of propulsion power but, so far as is known, all of these proposals have included the power source directly associated with the diver thereby creating additional weight to be buoyantly supported under water. Such means also requires the buoyant support of energy, e.g., batteries, or else requires the use of an electric cable driving a motor carried by the diver and the cable, in turn, being connected to a generator or the like at the surface of the water.

All of these proposals have not only required increased weight but also watertight construction to protect the operating motor and/or the batteries from which the motor receives its energy.

The present invention proposes to do away with all of these complications by the simple expedient of having a power driven water pump buoyantly supported on the surface of the water with the discharge of the pump connected by a hose to jet means secured either to the diver or to a supporting platform on which the diver may be seated or may lie in a prone position. Accordingly, the primary object of the invention is to provide a hydraulic jet propulsion means for divers in which the hydraulic power source is buoyantly supported at the surface of the water with only the propelling jet means being directly associated with the diver.

Another object of the invention is to provide a jet propulsion means of the above character in which the propelling jets are directly attached to the body of the diver.

A further object of the invention is to provide a jet propulsion means of the above character in which the propelling jets are associated with a platform means on which the diver may be supported.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a jet propulsion means for scuba divers in which the power source is buoyantly supported on the surface of the water and in which the jet means derived from said power source is controlled by the diver.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a jet propulsion means for scuba divers in which the reaction force of the jet is caused to be impinged on an adjustable surface controlled by the diver for controlling the resultant direction of propulsion by the jet.

Still another object of the invention is the connection with the jet propulsion means of a buoyantly supported power source arranged, per se, to add propelling force to the propulsion of the power source in the same direction as chosen by the diver.

With the foregoing objects in view, with such additional objects and advantages as may subsequently appear, the invention resides in the parts and in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts described, by way of example, in the following specification of certain presently preferred embodiments of the invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings which form a part of said specification and in which drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a first embodiment of the invention attached to a diver and connected to a schematically indicated power means buoyantly supported at the surface of the water,

FIFIG. 2 is a top plan view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 is a detail of the buckle means for the securing strap of the first embodiment of the invention,

FIG, 4 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on the line 44 of FIG. 1 showing details of the hose connection to the power source,

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a second embodiment of the jet propulsion belt means,

FIG. 6 is a reduced scale, side elevational view of the second embodiment of the invention as worn by a diver,

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the third embodiment of the invention characterized by the provision of a platform on which the jet propulsion means is installed and on which platform a diver is supported and may operate control surfaces for controlling the direction of propulsion,

FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of the third embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 9 is a rear elevational view of the third embodiment of the invention with parts broken away to conserve space,

FIG. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of the third embodiment of the invention showing details of the control for effecting vertical movement,

FIG. 11 is an enlarged scale, fragmentary section taken on the line 1111 of FIG. 7 showing details of the connection of the supporting bail component of the third embodiment, and

FIG. 12 is a side elevational view taken on the line 12-42 of FIG. 7 showing details of mounting of the manual control means for lateral and vertical steering.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, the first embodiment of the invention comprises a flat metal base plate 1 of generally rectangular plan configuration and shaped, as shown in FIG. 1 to conform to the lower back area of a scuba diver, the side of said plate adjacent the body or wet suit of the diver preferably being lined with a resilient rubber cushion 2 adhesively or Otherwise secured thereto. The opposite side edges of the assembled base plate and cushion are connected to the ends of a pair of body encircling straps 3, 3 secured thereto with the opposite ends of said straps carrying the respective components of a quick release buckle means 3' which, for example, may be of a type used for automobile seat belts or comparable usage. The outer surface of the plate 1 carries a Y-shaped jet discharge tube means 4 secured thereto by clip elements 4'; said tube means including a rearwardly extending stem or inlet portion 5 and rebent, rearwardly extending discharge ends 6 and 6' terminating in jet nozzles 7 and 7 disposed to project rearwardly at each side of the hips of the diver. The stem portion 5 carries a valve 8 terminating in a nipple 9 for attachment to one end of a hose 10 and the other end of the hose is attached to a power source resently to be described.

The valve 8 may be manually operated by the diver by any suitable means. As shown, the valve includes an operating shaft carrying a radially extending arm 11 which is connected by a link 12 with arm 13 on a rock shaft 14 journaled in a bearing 15 on the surface of the plate 1 and a bearing 16 carried by a clamp collar surrounding the free end 6 of the tube means 4, the outer end of the rock shaft being bent at an angle to afford an operating handle portion 17. Obviously, any other suitable valve and operating means therefor may be provided.

The power source comprises a buoyant structure here shown as an inflated rubber ring 18 carrying a dlSh-llke receptacle 19 preferably formed of sheet metal and having a false floor member 20 formed of wood. Mounted on the floor member is a power unit 21 comprising a n 1r1- ternal-combustion engine coupled to a pump. Additionally, this power source includes a fuel tank 22 Alternatively, in place of the internal-combustion engine an electric motor may be employed in which case, the fuel tank 22 would be supplanted by batteries to operate the motor. The pump discharge nipple 23 extends through the bottom of the power supply unit adjacent to one side edge of the receptacle 19 thereof and is connected to the inlet end of a hose 10. The pump intake port means also extends through the bottom of the receptacle 19 and externally thereof terminates in a laterally extending end 24 projecting toward the pump discharge port nipple 23, and carries a screen 25. The engine exhaust 26 also extends through the bottom of the receptacle 19 and terminates in an open end projecting in the opposite direction from the intake means 24. The openings in the bottom of the receptacle 19 through which these various ports and nipples extend are sealed by any suitable means to prevent the entry of water as, for example, by the use of stuffing box assemblies 26' secured to the under side of the receptacle 19.

For the purpose of describing the mode of use it W111 be assumed that the apparatus is positioned at a location from which the diver D is to operate, that the diver 1s equipped with the unit shown in FIG. 1, the unit being connected to the discharge port of the power supply pump, and that the engine and pump are operating with the valve 8 closed. Upon opening the valve, the reaction of the water being expelled at high velocity from the jet nozzles 7 and 7' will propel the drive-r forward with respect to the attitude he may be then assuming. If he is going substantially horizontally, he will tend to drag the power supply with him and he will be assisted in this effort both by the reaction to the engine exhaust and to the pump intake. The rate of speed of propulsion can be regulated by the extent to which he opens the valve 8 and he can move up to the surface or move down to the extent permitted by the hose. Incidentally, the length of the hose should never be so long as to permit the diver to expose himself to harmful compression effects, thus being a safety factor which derives from the use of the device.

Since the diver carries his own air supply, in the event that the hose should become fouled, he can simply release the buckle means and free himself from the device and make his way to the surface without it. If he should want to swim independently of it, he can descend to the bottom and release himself from the device and later return to it and put it on again and resume being propelled by the unit.

Referring next to FIG. 5, there is shown a second embodiment of the invention which, like the first embodiment, is intended to be worn by the diver. In this embodiment, the rigid base plate 1 is'dispensed with and a heavy, flexible body encircling band 30 is employed, the ends 31, 31 of the band terminating in strap ends Carrying interengaging buckle components 32 and 33. Additionally, the rear edge of the band includes a pair of tabs to which one end of each of a pair of leg straps 34, 34 are attached, the opposite ends of said straps carrying buckle engaging elements 35, 35 interengageable with the buckle means 32 and 33 for simultaneous release with the straps 31, 31 upon opening of the buckle means 32-33.

Any buckle such as used for quick release of a parachute harness or the like may be employed. The Y-shaped jet tube means 36 is, in general, of the same configuration as the corresponding element of the first embodiment and is secured to the outer surface of the band 30 by a center clip 37 and side clips 38, 38, the latter being disposed adjacent to the nozzles 39, 39 of the rebent portions 40, 40 of the tube means. The rebent portions of the tube means are sufficiently flexible to accommodate the bending of the band 30 as it is applied around the body of the diver while being at the same time of suflicient strength to resist the internal pressure of the Water being supplied for the jet propulsion. The center portion 41 of the tube means 36 carries a manually operated valve 42 controlled by a flexible wire control means 43 actuated by a handle 44 which is pivoted on a bracket 45 attached to one end of the outer surface of the band 30. The inlet end of the valve 42 terminates in a nipple 45 which is connected to the discharge end of the hose 10. The opposite end of the hose is, of course, connected to the power supply unit which may, for example, be that which is shown in FIG. 1 and which has been previously described. The use and operation of the device is the same as that of the first embodiment, the only difference being that for more strenuous work a more firmly fixed embodiment of the device is desirable. It is employed in the same manner as the first embodiment wherefore, a description of a mode of use is believed to be unnecessary.

Referring finally to FIGS. 7-12, there is shown a third embodiment of the invention which employs a support for a diver and which support carries a jet means deriving hydraulic propulsion power from a surface power source such as shown in FIG. 1. In this embodiment, the support for the diver comprises an elongated, U-shaped tubular metal frame comprising parallel side components 51, 51 and a front end component 52, said frame being secured to and supporting a rigid platform element 53 of the same general plan configuration as the frame and formed from suitable light weight material such as sheet metal or plastic and having the frame engaging edges thereof contoured to fit over the frame components 51 and 52 as shown in FIG. 11. At their rear ends, the frame side components are held in spaced relation by a transversely extending rod 54 and the rear end of the platform is provided with a longitudinally extending notch 55 of greater length than width, said notch extending rearwardly from the rudder means 56 to be later described. Additionally, the rod 54 serves as a support for an adjustable stabilizing plane element 57 mounted thereon within the notch 55 and securable in adjusted positions on the rod by a thumbscrew 58 threaded into the plane element 56 and engaging the rod.

At about the midlength thereof, the platform carries a transverse tube 59 secured to the under side of the frame side components 51, 51 by pillow block members 60, 60, said tube projecting outwardly beyond said frame side components and the ends of said tube receiving the laterally projecting ends 61, 61 of the side members 62, 62 of a tubular ball 63, said side members being united at their upper ends to form an inlet 64 attached to the discharge end of the hose 10 leading from the hydraulic power source at the surface. A bolt 65 extending through the tube 59 and the lower ends of the members 62, 62 segves to hold them in assembly with the ends of the tu e.

Inwardly of the pillow blocks 60, 60, the tube 59 is connected to the convergent ends 66, 66 of a Y-shaped jet tube component 67, the stem portion 68 of which carries a control valve 69 and thence terminates in a jet nozzle 70 disposed in the longitudinal center line of the platform and held in spaced relation below the platform by a bracket 70'.

The frame 50 at the juncture of the side components with the front component supports the rear ends of V- shaped steering apparatus bracket 71 which projects forwardly therefrom and at the apex thereof terminates in a vertical stud 72 on which a collar 73 is freely rotatably mounted. The collar includes a horizontal bore affording rotatable bearing support for a steering bar 74 having the midlength thereof journaled in said bore. Adjacent its ends, the bar is provided with vertical handles 75, 75

and with elevator rudders 76, 76 fixed to the bar for movement therewith.

The rudder means 56 includes a rudder ring 77 mounted for movement about a horizontal axis in a yoke 78 and the yoke, in turn, is mounted for movement about a vertical aXis in a bracket 79 fixed to the under side of the platform, the ring being disposed in the axial line of flow from the jet nozzle 69. A pair of cables 80, 80 extend from the steering bar 74 to the pivot points on the yoke 78 in which the rudder ring 77 is mounted and a second pair of cables 81, 81 extend from arms 82, 82 extending, respectively, upwardly and downwardly from the bar 84 to corresponding upwardly and downwardly extending arms associated with the rudder ring 76. By this means, if a diver lying prone on the platform rotates the bar 74 in a clockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 7, the elevator rudders or planes 76, 76 will be positioned to cause the front end of the platform to descend as it moves forward and at the same time, the rudder ring 77 will be correspondingly rotated clockwise to a corresponding degree so that the motion of the platform will be substantially downward while remaining in a substantially horizontal attitude. Turning the steering bar 74 about the vertical axis of the stud 71 will cause the yoke and rudder ring to be correspondingly moved about the pivotal mounting of the yoke to cause the rear end of the platform to swerve laterally as in making a turn and this will be effected regardless of whether the platform happens to occupy a horizontal or other than horizontal attitude.

Control of the propelling jet through manipulation of the valve 69 is effected by any suitable means disposed in a position for convenient operation by the diver as, for example, a control lever 83 mounted on one of the arms of the bracket 71 and connected by suitable motion transmitting means, e.g., a Bowden wire control means 84 to a lever arm 85 associated with the valve and controlling fiuid flow therethrough.

The operation of the device is believed to be obvious. The diver lying on the platform by manipulation of the control for the jet propulsion and the rudder ring can control the direction and speed of progress of the device and is free to leave it for independent movement and to return to it at will. All embodiments of the invention are characterized by the fact that the propulsion power is at the surface and while shown as being in a separate unit, so far as the present invention is concerned, the said power source could equally be installed in a boat with the hose going over the side of the boat. There is, however, advantage in the specific form of power supply unit in that it can supply at least part of the energy of propulsion by the novel arrangement of the engine exhaust and pump intake jets which would not exist where a boat was used to carry the prime mover and pump.

With the foregoing considerations in mind, it will be appreciated that the invention is not to be deemed to be limited to the precise details disclosed by way of example in the specification and includes as well all such modifications in the parts, and in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as shall come within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A propulsion means for a diver comprising a buoyantly supported power source on the surface of the water including a prime mover operatively connected to a pump, said pump having an intake submerged in the water and having the discharge thereof connected by a flexible conduit means to a jet nozzle means operatively associated with a diver and so positioned relative to the diver as to cause the reaction to water forcefully projected out of said jet nozzle means by said power source to effect forward propulsion of the diver in whatever attitude he may occupy.

2. A propulsion means as claimed in claim 1 in which said jet nozzle means is attached to belt means attached to the body of the diver.

3. A propulsion means as claimed in claim 1 in which said jet nozzle means is attached to a platform support means on which a diver is supported.

4. A propulsion means as claimed in claim 1 in which said power source includes means for effecting the propulsion thereof on the surface of the water.

5. A propulsion means as claimed in claim 1 in which the prime mover of said power source comprises an internal-combustion engine having the exhaust thereof submerged and disposed in a horizontal direction whereby reaction of the engine exhaust against the water produces a propulsive force on the buoyantly supported power source.

6. A propulsion means as claimed in claim 1 in which said prime mover includes means operative to exert propulsive effort on said power source and in which the intake of said pump is so arranged as to cooperate in effecting propulsion of said power source.

7. A propulsion means as claimed in claim 1 in which valve means controlled by the diver regulates the rate at which water is discharge from said jet nozzle means.

8. A propulsion means as claimed in claim 2 in which said jet nozzle means comprises a pair of jet nozzles disposed one each at each side of the diver.

9. A propulsion means as claimed in claim 2 in which a control valve operable by the diver is interposed between said flexible conduit means and said jet nozzle means and is mounted on said belt means.

10. A propulsion means as claimed in claim 3 in which said platform support means includes steering means operable by a diver occupying said platform to control the direction in which said platform is moved by reaction to water ejected from said jet nozzle means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,094,136 9/1937 Strawn -70 2,312,976 3/1943 Pels 1l5-6.1 2,691,784 10/1954 Eckl 1l56.1 3,084,654 4/ 1963 Rosenberg et al. l14--16 3,136,279 6/1964 Boatwright 1l5-6.1 3,140,549 7/ 1964 Wayfield 2444 3,142,285 7/1964 Sorrentino et a1. 115-12 FOREIGN PATENTS 55,651 7/ 1943 Netherlands.

MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

T. M. BLIX, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A PROPULSION MEANS FOR A DIVER COMPRISING A BUOYANTLY SUPPORTED POWER SOURCE ON THE SURFACE OF THE WATER INCLUDING A PRIME MOVER OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO A PUMP, SAID PUMP HAVING AN INTAKE SUBMERGED IN THE WATER AND HAVING THE DISCHARGE THEREOF CONNECTED BY A FLEXIBLE CONDUIT MEANS TO A JET NOZZLE MEANS OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH A DIVER AND SO POSITIONED RELATIVE TO THE DIVER AS TO CAUSE THE REACTION TO WATER FORCEFULLY PROJECTED OUT OF SAID JET NOZZLE MEANS BY SAID POWER SOURCE TO EFFECT FORWARD PROPULSION OF THE DIVER IN WHATEVER ATTITUDE HE MAY OCCUPY. 